audio;

[sciencetank]

... Has anyone heard from Smokescreen, of late? He's... been suspiciously silent.

[There's an awkward silence, before his tone suddenly turns brusque. As if brushing off the other words.]

Likely, he's become bored of his studies with me, and is avoiding the work. I'll... simply have to drag him back, if that's the case...

[He trails off, something in that tone failing him.]

That said... I'm in the middle of some very intensive trials. So I would prefer any and all interruptions or visitors to be kept to the bare minimum. Unless you're answering the aforementioned question.

[Translation: I'm working so hard so I don't think about missing people.]

[The feed is then full of that awkward silence until he simply shuts it off.]

Comments

[sciencetank]

That would be appreciated. I assume he's simply gotten distracted.

[neverputincharge]

Yeah, plenty to distract him here. Maybe he just got caught up in Trion's library or something.

When did you last hear or see from him?

[sciencetank]

Perhaps that is where your search should begin, then, hm?

[Mostly because he doesn't want to be confronted with the reality of the missing bot.]

... weeks ago.

[neverputincharge]

Yeah, we'll check there.

[He doesn't want to either. He's seen so many from his world disappear. But he's resigned to it. It's just something else to deal with in this world.]

We won't leave a stone unturned, Perceptor. If he's here, we'll find him. I'll drag him to you personally if you want.

[sciencetank]

He is. He's simply... absconded somewhere, that's all.

[neverputincharge]

Yeah, that's all. I'll keep ya posted. [He plans to look, check everywhere. If nothing else, to just be sure in his own spark that the kid's not just out there dying somewhere. Specially considering the crazy Ratchet was on the loose.]

...anything else I can do for ya? Or bring ya?

[sciencetank]

Of course.

[There's silence, as if he's debating whether or not to answer.]

No. I have everything I need in my lab.

[neverputincharge]

Alright, let me know if that changes.

I'll keep ya posted.

[With that he turns off the connection.]